23 Most Instagrammable Spots in Phuket

Big Buddha Phuket

The Phuket Big Buddha is a 45-meter-high white marble statue built at the top of a steep hill. It started around the year 2000 and is slowly moving toward completion. People love to take photos with the Big Buddha in the background and the bird’s view from Nakkerd Hill. On one side of the hill, you can admire Chalong Bay and sometimes Phang Nga Bay, which is not often. On the left side of the Buddha statue, a platform offers a beautiful bird’s view of Kata Beach. On the way down, you also can stop at one of the panoramic bars to capture some photos of Karon Beach.

Popular Ways to Discover Big Buddha

The Chartered Bank Intersection in Phuket Town

The old Chartered Bank in Phuket Town is definitely the hottest selfie spot on the island now. A small crowd of young people are engulfed in their selfie fashion show at each corner of the intersection of Phuket Road and Dibuk Road. It’s almost entertaining but also difficult to walk through without photo-bombing someone’s selfie. The old Chartered Bank (on the right) and the old police station with the clock tower on the left have both been converted into a museum a few years ago, called the Peranakan Baba Museum.

Popular Ways to Discover Phuket Town

Soi Romanee in Old Phuket Town

The historical centre of Phuket town is beautiful, and it gets even better each year as the municipality improves roads and infrastructure while owners renovate their houses. Many colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouse facades are an irresistible opportunity for selfies and a great playground for photographers of all kinds.

Maya Bay

Maya Bay, located on Phi Phi Leh Island, is a stunning beach surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and turquoise waters. Famous from the movie The Beach, it is a must-visit spot. However, to protect its delicate ecosystem, the bay is periodically closed to tourists. Visitors should check in advance if it is open. When accessible, boats cannot dock on the beach, and swimming is restricted to preserve marine life. The soft sand, clear waters, and breathtaking views make it a highlight of any trip. National Park rules are strictly enforced, so follow guidelines to ensure a respectful visit.

Mai Khao Plane Spotting

Planespotting on Mai Khao beach was long unknown. However, it slowly grew in popularity because large jets come close to the beach; it’s a jaw-dropping and unique photo to take. Its popularity exploded when, in 2016, it became forbidden to stand on the beach directly in the path of planes. This announcement triggered even more people to come and stand in front of landing planes; there was no better advertising, and Mai Khao is now a selfie paradise! Just keep in mind that planes only land above the beach during the high season!

Phuket Sign in Patong Beach

This setup is a relatively new addition to the Patong scene, with six colourful letters standing in the central part of the beach for anyone to take selfies. It looks good at any time of the day, but sunset time is popular.

Ma Doo Bua Cafe

Ma Doo Bua Phuket is a cafe and restaurant whose sole purpose is to provide an irresistible background to the new generation of selfie lovers. The main catch is an artificial lake covered with those unusual giant circular floating leaves called Victoria Amazonica, a species of flowering plant, the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of giant water lilies.

Karon View Point

Many people take a short break at Karon View Point (often called Kata View Point). The view from up there is legendary, and everyone has a photo of the three bays, namely Kata Noi, Kata Beach and Karon Beach in the far. It’s beautiful all year round, but the view is even more striking with a blue sky. People don’t stay long because there seems to be nothing much around; however, in the evening, you should stop for a drink or dinner at the beautiful Heaven Rooftop Restaurant located somewhere on the hill below.

Bangla Walking Street Sign

Bangla is a strange place: some hate it, and most love it. There are not many such streets in the world. It’s where you’ll find the famous beer bars, Live music bars, fantastic clubs and famous Go-Go bars! Most people stop at the renowned sign ‘Bangla Walking Street’ or ‘Welcome to Patong Beach’ and take a selfie to add to their bucket list.

James Bond Island

This standing rock featured in the old James Bond movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ is the subject of photos that strongly remind us of the Pisa Tower in Italy. People pretend to lean against it, push it, hold it in the palm of their hand and do all kinds of funny poses. It’s a very touristy place, but it is a beautiful location. Read more

Popular Ways to Discover James Bond Island and Koh Panyi

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong is the largest and most revered temple in Phuket. It is so beautifully crafted and such an impressive landmark it naturally became an Instagram favourite. Remember that Wat Chalong is a Buddhist temple, and you should behave quietly and respectfully. Remember not to wear skirts that are too short or pants that are too short (they should be below the knees).

Phi Phi Viewpoint

Phi Phi islands are famous and very scenic, and of course, everyone pictures the famous Maya Bay from the movie The Beach. The Phi Phi Viewpoint is one of the impressive spots for a selfie photo or a memory. It’s not too hard to reach, but remember that there are two levels, and the most iconic birdview of the two bays of Phi Phi main island is from ‘Viewpoint 2’. There is also a small but unavoidable entry fee.

Popular Ways to Discover Maya Bay

Samet Nangshee

Samet Nangshe is located just outside Phuket Island and requires a bit of drive, but it is truly impressive. It is worth the effort, not only for your selfies but as a place to admire once in a lifetime. Up there, you will find some accommodations and restaurants to spend time in if you wish.

Naithon Beach Staircase

The Naithon Beach staircase is easy to find if you know where to look, but most people miss it because the entrance is very narrow and tucked between a wall and dense vegetation. If you enter Naithon Beach from the south, with the ocean on your left, the staircase will be on your left as you go down the hill before entering the small city opposite Malaiwana villas.

Splash Beach Club

The Love Swing at Splash Beach Club is a popular selfie spot located south of Patong Beach on the way to Paradise Beach. There is an entrance fee of 100 baht, and it is not always open, so don’t hold your breath and have a plan B!

Baba Nest Rooftop

Baba Nest at Sri Panwa Hotel is the ultimate rooftop bar in Phuket. It is built high above Phuket Aquarium on the remote Cape Panwa, southeast of Phuket Island. It’s far, hard to find, and hard to book as you can expect a two-week waiting list to get a reservation, but it’s worth it.

Akoya Star Lounge

Akoya Star Lounge is an upmarket rooftop bar and tapas at V Villas Phuket by MGallery in Ao Yon Beach, a secluded cove in the southeast of Phuket. The place is new and packed every evening with Instagram and selfie lovers, so you need to book before going.

Tann Terrace

Set in a unique location on the beach at the south end of Karon Beach, Tann Terrace Phuket has a beach bar, a restaurant, and a small boutique hotel. The restaurant serves Thai, Italian and Western dishes with a wide range of drinks and cocktails. What used to be a run-down Thai restaurant where we used to have a casual Thai lunch is now one of the most popular beach clubs in Phuket.

Three Monkeys Restaurant

Three Monkeys restaurant is set in the Jungle somewhere between Phuket Town and Chalong, part of the popular Hanuman World Zipline attraction. With a beautiful and somehow unusual design, the Three Monkeys restaurant has been a success from day 1, attracting a crowd of teenagers and young families. The restaurant is surprisingly large, built on several levels on the side of a hill overlooking the Chalong area.

Baan Ar Jor House Museum

Baan Ar Jor is a historical house located north of Phuket. Each room of this superbly renovated house from 1936 is a fantastic playground for selfies.

Promthep Cape

Promthep Cape is probably one of the oldest photo locations on the island. Twenty years ago, when I first arrived in Phuket, Promthep was already famous. From 6 pm to 6:30 pm, a little crowd would gather to admire the sunset over the iconic cape. With the arrival of mobile cameras, it just became more popular, and buses now offload a hundred tourists to Promthep Cape daily.

Laem Singh Viewpoint

It was not easy to see Laem Singh Beach from the road until a couple of years ago. Although it was not a secret beach, people loved it and would make an effort to walk up and down the steps to get there for the day. For a long while, Laem Singh beach remained closed to the public because the land leading to it was private, but recently, it became possible to go back by boat from Surin beach or with a bit of walk around the rocky cape. A scenic viewpoint with a convenient parking space is now a must-stop and must-shoot location.

Windmill Viewpoint

A little less known but equally popular is the Windmill viewpoint overlooking Ya Nui beach. It would be easy to miss the small road leading to the outlook if not for the large electric propeller that marks the location, visible kilometres away.

Coconuts Cafe

Coconuts Cafe is an excellent little venue hidden near Chalong Bay. The house is set in an immense garden where customers can enjoy delicious cakes and drinks while taking photos, sitting at little white tables in the natural surroundings.